INDIANAPOLIS -- Dennis Smith Jr. did not practice with the Mavericks on Friday, which wasn't major news, given the deteriorating relationship between player and franchise this week.

Nor did Smith join the Mavericks on their post-practice flight to Indianapolis, where they will play the Pacers on Saturday. No shocker there since Smith hasn't practiced or played with the Mavericks in 12 days and couldn't possibly be game-ready.

The only pseudo-Smith news was a roughly 45-second-statement made by coach Rick Carlisle before the team left Dallas.

"Dennis Smith is not here, but I want to let everybody know that I reached out to him and his agent last night and let them know that when he's feeling better he's welcome to rejoin the team anytime," Carlisle said. "We would love to have him back.

"In his year-and-a-half here he has started every game that he has been available to play. And during that period of time he has experienced significant growth on both sides of the ball, and I'm very proud of the progress that he's made. And so that's where we are."

Carlisle didn't elaborate. He firmly added that he would take no Smith-related questions, leaving reporters to decipher what each portion of his statement meant.

The fact that Carlisle communicated with Smith and his agent, Glenn Schwartzman, corroborates what a Mavericks source told The News on Wednesday with the source expressing optimism that the positive dialogue would lead to Smith returning to the team soon.

Obviously, soon turned out not to be Friday. With the Mavericks on a two-game trip that ends with a Monday afternoon game at Milwaukee, and with Smith unlikely to play, anyway, perhaps player and agent merely decided that a reunion would be best when the team returns to Dallas early next week.

Carlisle said he doesn't expect Smith to join the Mavericks at any point of this trip, then reiterated: "I just think that he's part of this team and we'd love to have him back."

The mere fact that Carlisle felt the need to privately and publicly invite back to the team is revealing in itself -- an indication of how far the franchise and Smith had grown apart this week. Reconciliation has moved at a glacial pace while the Mavericks continue to search for a trade that would return face value for Smith, who made the NBA's All-Rookie second team last season.

Rejoining Mavericks could help shape Dennis Smith Jr.'s future, whether in a Dallas uniform or not

Why Carlisle made a point of saying that Smith has started every game he has played as a Maverick is unclear. Perhaps it was his way of stressing that, even though Smith's role has changed considerably this season with Luka Doncic taking over much of the first-team ball-handling, Smith, through it all, has continued to start.

Carlisle pointing out Smith's offensive and defensive improvement is a statement of fact. Smith's defense has improved to the point that he is one of the Mavericks' best ball-stoppers. And his shooting percentage has risen from 39 percent last season to 43 percent this season.

Carlisle emphasizing his pride in Smith's improvement would seem to have a twofold message: Yes, Carlisle believes the Mavericks' system has enabled Smith to flourish, despite this season's role change, and it's a compliment to Smith for putting in the work to improve.

Despite Thursday's indications from both a Mavericks source and a league source that there had been a thawing of the icy relationship, it's evidently a slow thaw.

Carlisle expounded on the Smith situation during his weekly radio show appearance on KESN-FM 103.3's "Dennis and Cowlishaw."

"I don't know exactly what's going on, but I know one thing: This kid is a team guy, and he loves being with his teammates," Carlisle said. "This is just my feeling, is that he's being told to stay away for whatever reason. I just don't want people out there to think he is snubbing the Mavs or anything like that.

"This is just my opinion, I believe there's business stuff going on and he's being told to stay away. Listen, if that's what they feel is in his best interests, he should trust his advisers. But it's unlike him not to want to be with his teammates."

J.J. Barea returns: Friday also marked veteran guard J.J. Barea's return to the Mavericks' practice facility since his surgery earlier this week to repair the right Achilles tendon rupture he suffered Jan. 11 at Minnesota.

Barea and fellow veteran guard Devin Harris have been mentors to Smith since the Mavericks made him the No. 9 pick of the 2017 draft.

"Hopefully things get worked out," Barea said of the Smith-Mavericks impasse. "For our team and for him, personally."